The Strokes Return to Coachella After 15 Years With Hit-Filled Set

The Strokes made a high-profile return to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, marking their first appearance at the event in 15 years. The New York City indie rock pioneers delivered a 15-song set that blended their early career milestones with new material, all while frontman Julian Casablancas maintained his reputation for provocative and unpredictable stage banter.

The performance was framed by a series of humorous remarks, most notably when the band joked about The Strokes fulfill “lifelong dream of opening for Justin Bieber”, as they performed on the main stage ahead of the pop star’s headlining set. Casablancas leaned into the irony, telling the crowd, “I’m here for [him], too,” while also mentioning that he had not been paid for the appearance but was instead offered the chance to “stand off to the side of the stage” to watch Bieber’s performance.

Beyond the lighthearted jokes, the set served as a promotional launchpad for the band’s upcoming seventh studio album, Reality Awaits. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album is scheduled for release in June 2026 according to NME. The band debuted their lead single, “Going Shopping,” during the set, a track they had previously shared with fans via cassette and at a San Francisco underplay show.

The return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, marks a significant full-circle moment for the group, who last topped the Coachella bill in 2011. While the musical chemistry remained tight, the evening was equally defined by Casablancas’ political commentary and pointed critiques of corporate and government policy.

A Setlist of Classics and New Directions

The band’s 15-song performance was heavily weighted toward their formative years, drawing extensively from their first two albums, Is This It and Room on Fire. The set opened with “Subpar Decisions” before diving into a deep catalog of hits that defined the early 2000s indie rock explosion.

Fans witnessed a curated mix of early cuts and more recent work, including:

• Early Hits: “Hard to Explain,” “Someday,” “Last Nite,” “Reptilia,” and “Under Control.”
• Recent Era: Tracks from 2020’s The New Abnormal, including “Selfless.”
• New Material: The lead single “Going Shopping” from the forthcoming Reality Awaits.

The performance highlighted the band’s enduring onstage chemistry, balancing the raw energy of their debut era with the more polished production of their later work.

Political Commentary and Corporate Critiques

Julian Casablancas used the Coachella platform to address several socio-political issues, shifting the tone from comedic to critical. One of the most visible statements was his attire; Casablancas wore a t-shirt that mimicked the Amazon logo, but replaced the company’s name with the word “crime,” a subtle dig at Jeff Bezos as reported by NME.

The frontman also addressed the U.S. Government’s plans regarding military service. He referenced news that the government intends to move toward automatically registering men aged 18 to 25 as eligible for a military draft, replacing the current self-registration model.

During his banter, Casablancas asked the audience, “You guys excited about the draft?” before clarifying, “Oh, wait, not the NFL draft.” He continued by noting that within six months, those eligible for the military would likely have to register, adding with a sarcastic tone, “I hope to lead one of the Coachella units. The sexiest unit in our proud military, I’m sure.”

The Road to ‘Reality Awaits’

The Coachella appearance serves as a primary catalyst for the anticipation surrounding Reality Awaits. The collaboration with renowned producer Rick Rubin suggests a specific sonic direction for the seventh studio album. The band has employed an eclectic promotional strategy for the lead single, “Going Shopping,” which included mailing physical cassettes to fans prior to its release on digital streaming platforms.

This strategic blend of analog nostalgia—via cassettes—and massive festival stages reflects the band’s current positioning as veteran icons of the indie scene who still maintain an appetite for subversive marketing and political engagement.

Key Performance Details

The next confirmed milestone for the band is the official release of Reality Awaits in June 2026, with pre-orders currently available. We invite our readers to share their thoughts on the band’s return and their new single in the comments section below.